Can I Still Do An Apprenticeship If I Have A Degree?

One frequently asked question about apprenticeships is “can I still do an apprenticeship if I have a degree?”. The answer is that yes you can. 

Lots of young people who have already done a degree, or completed part of a degree course, have seen the advantages of doing an apprenticeship. Here are three examples of apprenticeships which you can gain entry to even if you already have a degree.

1. Solicitor apprenticeship

The solicitor apprenticeship is an articled apprenticeship and it provides a six year route to becoming a fully qualified solicitor. The entry requirements will be set by individual employers, however the recommended minimum entry requirements are:

• Five GCSEs, including mathematics & English at grade C or above (or equivalent)
• Three A Levels (or equivalent) at a minimum of grade C - and / or relevant employer- led work experience
• A Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship in a relevant occupation - Business Administration, Legal Services or Providing Financial Services
• A Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship in a relevant occupation - Legal Services, Professional Services, and Providing Financial Services
• A Paralegal Apprenticeship
• A Legal Executive Apprenticeship
• A Law Degree, Graduate Diploma in Law or Legal Practice Course

There is no government funding available to the employer for the apprenticeship. However, part-time students can access loans up to the full tuition fee through the Student Loans Company. You will still earn while you learn and the employer provides a salary to the apprentice employee during the six years of study and it is up to the employer whether they decide to cover all or some of the cost of study.

2. Level 7 outside broadcast engineer apprenticeship

The entry requirements for this apprenticeship state that ‘Typically, an entrant will have a degree within an engineering or technical media discipline or have a substantial level of experience in a related work area (normally 3 years or more).’

Over the course of the outside broadcast engineer apprenticeship, which is typically 12 – 18 months, the apprentice would have the opportunity to gain a Post Graduate Diploma in Outside Broadcasting Engineering. 

3. Systems engineering master’s level apprenticeship

The entry requirements for this apprenticeship standard state that candidates must have English and mathematics at level 2 and that employers will typically set entry requirements of an engineering degree or equivalent. 

Apprentices on this programme will complete a Post Graduate Diploma in systems engineering and will achieve the standard of INCOSE systems engineering practitioner. In addition, the apprenticeship will align with the professional registration requirements for Chartered Engineer.

You can do an apprenticeship if you have a degree. However, you might need to access a student loan if your apprentice employer is not going to cover the costs for you and they cannot get this from government funding. You can read more about degree apprenticeships here.